Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
If Ava has her way, I’ll never get another chance like this again.
She stares after them with a bemused expression. With her distracted, it gives me the perfect opportunity to silently soak in the sight of her.
She shakes her head and chuckles. “They’re pretty cute.”
“What they are is a pain in the ass,” I correct, though there’s a fondness in my voice I can’t hide. “They keep my mom busy, for sure.”
Her lips curve as she shrugs. “I can see that. When I was about ten, I begged my parents for a sister or brother. It was always just the three of us, and there were times when it was lonely. That’s when they sat me down and told me that my mom couldn’t have more kids. They’d both been so sad.”
It’s kind of weird to think of Coach having a life outside of hockey. Maybe even a few unfulfilled hopes and dreams.
“Are you close with them?”
She nods. “Yeah, I am.”
“They must be pretty protective since it’s just you.”
Emotion flickers in her eyes before she glances away. Just when I think she’ll evade the question with a change in topic, she says, “They are.” There’s a pause before her voice dips. “The last year has been difficult for them.”
Everything around me fades to the background as I press closer, wanting to know every detail she’s willing to hand over. “How come?”
She shrugs as her teeth scrape across her lower lip. “The move and just everything that came along with it.”
Even as I nod, I replay her words in my head, trying to make sense of them. I get the feeling there’s more to the story than Ava is willing to tell me. What I’ve already discovered in the little time we’ve spent together is that she’s guarded. If I push too hard, attempting to dig for the truth, she’ll shut down, and I’ll lose the tiny bit of trust I’ve gained this afternoon.
I glance at my phone, knowing our time together is running out. “My mom is going to meet me here to take the kids home since they live about thirty minutes away.”
She picks up the straw wrapper from her drink and smooths it out before folding it accordion style. “You’ve mentioned your mom several times, but not your dad.” Her gaze flicks upward, pinning mine in place. “Are they divorced?”
It’s a fair question, one I’m used to answering, but it still stings. “He died right before Kia was born.”
Ava’s hand flies to her mouth as regret floods her features. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
I shake my head. “It’s okay. He was a great dad. Life hasn’t been easy without him, but we’re managing.”
She surprises me by reaching across the table, her fingers curling around mine in a gentle, comforting gesture. “Do you mind me asking how it happened?”
“Distracted driver,” I say quietly. “The guy was a few years older than me, and I knew him. It was an election year, and the DA was hellbent on making an example out of him. He went to prison, but it didn’t change anything. It was a tragedy all the way around.”
Her eyes flicker with sympathy, and for the first time, I see a crack in her tough exterior before she glances at my siblings again as if with fresh eyes. “They’re lucky to have you.”
The heartfelt comment takes me by surprise. I don’t talk about my dad with many people, but somehow, sharing my past with Ava feels… easy.
Right.
“Kia chattered about you nonstop in the locker room. Just in case you didn’t realize it, she’s your number one fan.”
My lips quirk. The feeling is entirely mutual. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for that girl.
And that includes burying bodies or taking someone out to the woods if they break her heart.
“It’s good to know she was hyping me up.”
“The entire time.”
“I should probably slip her a few bucks for putting in a good word.”
Our gazes cling from across the table as Kia’s excited voice cuts through the air. “Mom!”
I glance up to see my mom standing near the entrance, talking with an excited Kia while Theo tugs on her sleeve, trying to get her attention. Ollie is still glued to the pinball machine.
When she finally spots me, her eyes widen slightly as they land on Ava. It doesn’t take long for her to recover. She walks over, a smile already forming on her lips.
“Ava, this is my mom, Cheryl. Mom, this is Ava.” I introduce them quickly, hoping Mom doesn’t say anything too embarrassing.
“It’s nice to meet you,” my mom says, her smile warm and genuine.
“You too,” the girl across from me replies politely, her earlier ease slipping away under the older woman’s scrutiny.
Mom’s eyes sparkle with interest as she glances between us. “Are you two friends?”
Ava’s quick to say “No.”